FROM THIS EPISODE

"Old age should not be the leading cause of death on death row." That's what Pete Wilson said today, joining two other former Governors supporting a November ballot initiative to speed up executions in California. With 746 inmates now facing capital punishment, we hear the arguments on both sides. Also, President Obama will visit the San Joaquin Valley tomorrow to highlight the drought. Democrats want to save Endangered Species Act protections Republicans deride as "fish before farmers."

Later on To the Point, America's last heroin epidemic was in the 1970's and 80's -- concentrated in metropolitan centers. Now it's back — more powerful and potentially deadly — and the users are younger, more affluent and living in areas ill-prepared to cope with the problem. We hear from a recovering addict and others.

There are 746 inmates on death row in California, which hasn't conducted an execution since 2006. Yesterday, after 28 years on death row, Wilbur Lee Jennings died of natural causes. Today, a group of former politicians were the first to sign an initiative that would speed up the process. Three former Governors — Democrat Gray Davis, along with Republicans George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson — are on board along with LA County's former District Attorney Steve Cooley.

As the drought continues, the Metropolitan Water District has issued a "water supply alert" for the 19 million people it serves. Meantime, water use has become a political issue in Sacramento and Washington. President Obama will visit the San Joaquin Valley tomorrow. Republicans have focused attention there in a way that puts the Democrats on the defensive. Governor Brown — political pro that he is — is always ready to decry the effects of partisanship. So what's the potential impact of the competing proposals?